Barton Solvents Plant Explosion

On the morning of July 17, 2007 hundreds of people were evacuated from the town of Valley Center near Wichita, Kansas after an explosion and subsequent fire at a Barton Solvent plant.

Authorities determined that 36 storage tanks containing approximately 660,000 pounds of chemicals, including hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohol, went up in smoke. The fire was so intense that firefighters could do little to extinguish the flames; instead they mainly kept the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings. The fire marshal for the Wichita fire department said "the plume looks like it's going up into the air and dissipating."

Miraculously, no one at the plant or its surrounds was injured in the explosion although 10 people were admitted to Wichita hospital as a precautionary measure. Barton employs about two dozen people and half its employees were at work at the time of the explosion.

Hundreds of people within a two-mile radius of the plant were ordered evacuated but the mandatory order was lifted a few hours later. However, some people who left their homes were not able to return immediately and state officials have kept some parts of Valley Center closed after chemical levels were registered as high as 15 parts per million. (Some chemicals are hazardous at levels below one part per million.)

Even though the authorities believe that long-term health issues are not a concern, residents have been told they might experience nausea and headaches in the next few days. They have also been advised not to touch any soot as a result of fall-out from the smoke and vapors of the fire.

State Officials said that 60 Kansas National Guard troops are assisting workers with the recovery and so far they have collected about 17,000 gallons of water, firefighting foam and solvents.

Barton Solvents Inc., based in Des Moines, is a stocking wholesale distributor of industrial chemicals, oils, surfactants and plasticizers. Some chemicals solvents stored by Barton are known carcinogens and there is concern that these toxic compounds, which were released into the air, could still be present in another form of compound.

The cause of the fire hasn't been determined.

Barton Solvents Articles

Barton Solvents: Are Reimbursements Enough?
The residents of Valley Center have been issued reimbursement checks from Barton Solvents for clothing expenses, hotel bills and a few other incidentals after they were evacuated following a blast at the chemical company. But not everyone can be paid off so readily.

Barton Solvents: We're Outa Here!
Alisa Thomas was at work in South Wichita when the first explosion from Barton Solvents chemical plant started a massive fire that sent about 660,000 pounds of chemicals up in smoke. "It woke my daughterâ€"she thought bombs were falling from the sky," says Thomas.

Barton Solvents: Cause for Concern?
According to Valley Center City Administrator I.D. Creech, the town will be back to normal soon, and that "dirt" from the area surrounding Barton Solvents chemical plant has mainly been cleaned up. The word "dirt" doesn't seem as menacing as "toxic chemicals." Is Creech trying to play down this potential environmental disaster?

Barton Solvents in the News

JUL-26-07: Businesses located near the Barton chemical plant have been affected by the fire. Some workers have not been able to go to work while delivery trucks have been rerouted. [NEWS: BARTON SOLVENTS]

JUL-23-07: The tank area involved in the Barton explosion and fire was not inspected by the state fire marshal's office. The fire ignited around 660,000 pounds of chemicals. [CAPITAL-JOURNAL: BARTON SOLVENTS]

JUL-18-07: Thousands of residents have been evacuated from Valley Center, near Wichita, KA after a massive explosion at Barton Solvents Inc. The solvent distribution plant burst into flames on Tuesday morning and engulfed an area with 44 storage tanks capable of holding up to 650,000 gallons of solvents and oils. [KANSAS CITY STAR: BARTON FIRE]

Barton Solvents Plant Explosion Legal Help

If you or a loved one have suffered damages in the Barton Solvents plant fire, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Last updated on Aug-6-07